OGHARA (DELTA STATE) ––New signings Jonah Abutu, Akinrolabu Gbemi and old attacking partners Aruwa Ahmeh and Ubale Manir scored 1,2,3,4 goals to demystify the “evil” effect of Tornadoes in Week 1 Nigerian Premier League opener on Sunday in Oghara Township stadium.
The emphatic victory to grab the 3 points at stake in such a media hyped clash with a retinue of sports reporters for the coverage, was all the Yenagoa side needed to convince Governor Diprieye Silva that the state oil cash in the area of soccer is being well spent.
From the blast of the whistle through the regulation time, the Minna side proved no threat at all, as the Bayelsans combined skill and stamina to overwhelm the power state boys.
Abutu struck in the first 5 minutes via a pass from Kadiri Ahmed’s free kick. In the 26th minute, it was a penalty neatly converted by Ahmed after Stanley Obawuchi was tripped by the Tornadoes goalkeeper Harry Blankson in the box, while Manir’s solo run resulted in the third goal in the 30th minute to end the first stanza at 3-0.
On resumption of the second stanza not even the catalogue of substitutions made by coach Zackary Banaje was good enough to save the day for Tornadoes.
Gbemi made it 4 in the 73rd minutes, even as keeper Blankson was substituted before the end of the first half for Moses Ochieje who conceded the fuorth goal.
At the end of the game, the media Officer Ebi Avi who spoke with the press with smiles all over his face averred that “this is just the beginning of what people will have to see about Bayelsa United”.
“We have made good buys and we will be releasing them gradually, and this is to show our training tour in Ghana was also not a waste”, he enthused.
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